British architect Norman Foster to renovate Prado extension

Madrid: World famous architect Norman Foster has been selected to renovate part of the famous Prado art gallery here, the museum has confirmed.

Foster will work with Spanish architect Carlos Rubio on the 30 million euro ($33 million) refurbishment of the 17th century Hall of Realms (Salon de Reinos in Spanish), Xinhua news agency reported.

It is a wing of the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid acquired by the Prado last year to house part of its extensive art collection.

Foster and Rubio were chosen after the Prado held a competition earlier in the year to “select a team for remodelling the building for primary display use”.

The museum said the architectural proposal “respects and values what is already there, adjusting it to the necessities of our times”.

The plan will open up the south face of the building to give the impression the Salon de Reinos, which used to house the Spanish Army Museum, is partially open.

“A new roof will harvest energy from integrated solar cells, give natural light to the galleries below and cantilever as a shade to protect the southern facade,” explained Foster and Partners in a statement.

Foster, whose company has designed a host of projects, such as the Millennium Bridge in London, the international terminal at Beijing Capital International Airport and the planned remodelling of FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium, said he was “honoured to be able to contribute to this next phase of the expansion of the Prado”.